4 Minute Window
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | 4 Minute Window |
| Author(s): | Speranza |
| Date(s): | 28 November 2014 - 24 December 2016 |
| Length: | 197,383 words in 21 works |
| Genre(s): | slash |
| Fandom(s): | Captain America Movieverse |
| Relationship(s): | Steve/Bucky |
| External Links: | 4 Minute Window series on the AO3 Speranza's Marvel fic on her website |
 Fic cover by aimmyarrowshigh (2022) | |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
4 Minute Window is an epic series of Steve/Bucky fics by Speranza. It is a canon-divergent AU: the first work in the series tells the story of Steve and Bucky escaping from SHIELD's surveillance, and the sequels detail their lives in hiding in Brooklyn, on Coney Island Avenue.
Synopsis
Author's Summary of 4 Minute Window
Look, if they catch me," Bucky muttered, "they're either going to kill me or they're going to put me in a box with a little window and—Steve, I can't.
Works in the Series
- 4 Minute Window
- The Second Time As Farce
- Yelp page for Coney Island Design & Construction
- Scenes from a Marriage: The Kandinsky
- Scenes from a Marriage: The Studebaker
- The Third Time's The Charm
- Scenes from a Marriage: A Month Of Sundays
- The Tradeoff
- The Fourth Fool Me
- Scenes From A Marriage: The Long Road Home
- Taking the Fifth
- Scenes From A Marriage: Hazy Days of Winter
- At Sixes and Sevens
- Scenes From A Marriage: Mailbag
- Eight Invitations
- Scenes From A Marriage: Captain America At Home
- 9 Lives
- 10 Kinds of Grateful
- Scenes From A Marriage: Then and Now
- At The Eleventh Hour
- Scenes From A Marriage: That Which Persists
Some Reviews
The Stucky in the fic is wonderful. Speranza has a way of writing them as lovers that always blows me away – the way they fit and understand each other without words, in a physical, instinctive way that reminds me of that final fight scene against Iron Man in the Civil War trailer. In this fic, especially, the way Steve comes alive by the mere thought of being with Bucky again – it’s both heartbreaking and wonderful to read. And Bucky, for all his expertise in planning their escape, almost breaks down when Steve kisses him. This is not a fic that glosses over the damage done to him as the Winter Soldier; he says “I’m spit and glue over here” and that’s how he feels all through the fic.[1]
so the reason i read this fic was because of a post with a bunch of yelp reviews for some fictional company, so i thought "ooh! delicious manmeat au!!” and while this fic was not actually about steve and bucky fixing peoples plumbing etc, it was actually better? just, so good. i need more of it. 24k is NOT ENOUGH.[2]
I have to throw in here that Natasha’s connection to Steve is one of my favourite things about this story. In fact, there’s a moment in particular – read the story and then come back to me so I can be more forthright about which moment it IS, and we can talk about it – that stands out to me as perhaps my FAVOURITE moment between Steve and Natasha that I’ve seen in any fanfic ever. The friendship and overall connection that Speranza builds up between the two is compelling and really builds off of and blossoms from the potential we saw between them in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.The central relationship of the story, which goes without saying is the one between Steve and Bucky, is just fucking beautiful. In particular, I love the short flashback to their days in the war, specifically in the Italian safehouse. The burn between them is slow and worth the wait, that by the time they finally get to be alone and get their hands on each other, the reward is satiating, beautiful, but also realistic given their circumstances.[3]
Steve’s relationships with everyone else is nuanced and well thought out. Natasha really cares for him, in a different way than Tony tries to take care of him. The author really nails the characterization of the secondary characters and makes me feel sympathetic to them even when they’re trying to obstruct Steve & Bucky.Perhaps my favorite part was Peggy. It’s interesting to see her in her old age & how the author writes dementia. She plays the sweetest role in this that made my heart really sad, but also full of happiness that she got to see Steve again at all. Her relationship in the past with Bucky & Steve compromising between the three of them is also something I’d really like to read more of - there’s more parts to this series that I haven’t read yet, so perhaps it is.[4]
Okay, so if you don’t know @cesperanza, you are in for a treat. Her characterization of Bucky is one of my absolute favorites - he is competent and cool, and she writes him and everything he does so convincingly. That’s the hallmark of a speranza fic: you believe every word of it, and it always feels real. It’s a totally immersive story that continues out into a delightful series.[5]
An absolutely unmissable post-CATWS fic that feels like a Bourne Identity-style sequel to the movie. Thrilling, emotionally intense, and includes some great technical detail in the action sequences. I also recommend reading and subscribing to the ongoing series of sequels.[6]
Related Works
- 4 Minute Window podfics by RevolutionaryJo, audrey1nd, bessyboo, croissantkatie, Dr_Fumbles_McStupid, fleurrochard, ItsADrizzit, kalakirya, lavenderfrost, Lunate8, lunchee, XanaTenshi
- it’s like grand central station in here: a mix for “4 minute window", Archived version by weirywolf
- Art for the 4 Minute Window Series by alby_mangroves
- Fan Art for Speranza's 4 Minute Window Series by danceswchopstck
Example Art Gallery
The Three Caps by Artgroves (2020)
References
- ^ vaysh11, rec post on Tumblr, 28 November 2015
- ^ barenakedjac, rec post on Tumblr, 31 January 2015
- ^ ohcaptainmycaptain1918, fic rec post on Tumblr, 30 January 2015
- ^ unknownrecs, rec post on Tumblr, 25 May 2016
- ^ "Any stucky classics I can read. I am new to the fandom n all., 2018 Tumblr post". Archived from the original on 2022-06-25.
- ^ "The Rec Center #16". Archived from the original on 2024-07-20.